Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has pledged to put his own radical proposals on reforming MPs’ expenses to the House of Commons after a meeting between the three main party leaders on the issue ended in deadlock.
Gordon Brown published his own plan yesterday which included replacing the second home allowance with a daily attendance allowance. It got short shrift from Nick, but it seems the Prime Minister is unshiftable. Speaking to BBC News tonight after the talks, Nick said:
Share:Gordon Brown wont budge. He wants to move to this system where MPs would basically given a cheque for turning up. He seemed determine to put what I think is a really spectacular step in the wrong direction to a vote in the House of Commons next week. We are servants of the public. Taxpayers pay us to do our job, we should account for every penny that we claim. Taxpayers have a right to know how we spend and why we ask for any money from the taxpayer.” (Source: PoliticsHome.com).
2 Comments
Let’s hope Nick didn’t make the two spelling / grammatical mistakes in the first 3 sentences!
Nick is right on this one, why should MPs be paid twice for doing their job?
Is it just me that doesn’t understand why we don’t just give a fee equivavlent to a 1 bed flat rental near to Westminster to each non London MP and be done with it? They can then decide whether to use the money to rent a flat, to put it towards a mortgage or running costs of a second home or whatever.